Atos, the firm that currently holds a government contract to conduct assessments of benefit claimants, has hired Edelman as it seeks to emphasise other strengths of the business.

The agency’s public affairs team has been handed the newly created UK brief following a pitch.

PRWeek understands the work will involve showing that the company is far broader than the contract it has with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to oversee the controversial Work Capability Assessment amid benefits wider reforms.

A specific focus will be on the technology and media side of Atos, which is an IT partner of the BBC.